World record bid makes the big book

It took seven months and 23 days, but Billingborough Cricket Club duo Dave Newman and Richard Wells have successfully made it to the Guinness Book of Records for completing an audacious 48-hour cricket net.

Dave and Richard have raised £14,588 in aid of Brain Tumour Research UK since the record attempt at the beginning of the year in Sleaford’s Northgate Sports Hall.

They smashed the previous record of 26 hours, achieved in Surrey in July 2013, with a time of 48 hours and two seconds, facing more than 17,000 deliveries.

The idea of the 48-hour net was hatched by Dave and Richard after team-mate Wayne Chessum had two brain tumours removed within two years.

Luckily, Wayne has recovered and is playing cricket again.

Richard’s grandfather has also been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, which gave the boys even more of a reason to break the world record and raise as much money as possible.

Dave said: “If more money is raised there will hopefully be more brain tumour stories with happy endings. I’m incredibly overwhelmed by so, so many people who have supported us. There’s too many to thank.”